Aspergers with possible dyslexia

[mac4]

Hello everyone

 

Hope to find out if other parents kids have more than one difficulty. My daughter was dx in dec 2008 with Aspergers, we recently had our first multi-disciplinary meeting were it was brought to our attention that there were some difficulties with spelling. The Learning Support Teacher asked if she could do a dyslexic screening test. Does anyone else have an Aspergers child with similar problems. I haven't heard of this before as I always thought they were kids who had no cognitive difficulties and am now concerned that another diagnosis could be added or maybe the Asperger dx might not be correct!!

 

Feel worried about all of this

 

Look forward to your replies

[bjkmummy]

hi, i think ben has dysleixia too - having problems with the school getting them to recognise it as they seem to put allhis problems down to his autism. bens official diagnosis is autism although people have also referred to him as having aspergers - ben is high functioning but academically is years behind his peers - regardless of his dx its defiantely worth getting him checked out for dyslexia

[JsMum]

 

 

Hi yes you can have what is called an over lap or co morbid, it may be termed Spersific learning difficulties,

 

The Dyslexia Action will have further information on Dyslexia and Aspergers Syndrome.

 

I also found a link I will PM as I am not sure I can post it as its from the OPEN UNIVERCITY website.

 

Any yes you can have both AS and Dyslexia.

 

JsMum

 

 

[lynne]

My 11 year old has ASD and Dyslexia.

 

At first the school put his learning difficulty down to his ASD but I kept insisting he had dyslexic tendencies. (His older brother has dyslexia).

 

Once this was addressed he started to work at what he is capable of. Scored level 5 in all his sats apart from writing. But alot of ASD children do have problems writing. My sons writing difficulty is down to his sensory issues. He finds it so hard to get the right amount of pressure on the pen. So by the end of each lesson he is very tired.

[JsMum]

 

 

Hi, just adding the open uni website as its got a lot of good information on Disabilities.

 

http://www.open.ac.uk/inclusiveteaching/pa...ifficulties.php

 

JsMum

 

 

[julieann]

Hello everyone

 

Hope to find out if other parents kids have more than one difficulty. My daughter was dx in dec 2008 with Aspergers, we recently had our first multi-disciplinary meeting were it was brought to our attention that there were some difficulties with spelling. The Learning Support Teacher asked if she could do a dyslexic screening test. Does anyone else have an Aspergers child with similar problems. I haven't heard of this before as I always thought they were kids who had no cognitive difficulties and am now concerned that another diagnosis could be added or maybe the Asperger dx might not be correct!!

 

Feel worried about all of this

 

Look forward to your replies

Hi Mac4,

YES! Dyslexia and autism are common co-morbidities, they aren't as common as autism/bipolar, or autism/ADD/HD though.

"Autism rarely stands alone". I remember using this quote for my ASD certificate course but have been unable to find its source.

 

julieann

[chris54]

Short answer , Yes. My son has ASD and is dyslexic, so I'm told by the school senco but not as dyslexic as me, But then my ASD does not impact on my life as much as his.

 

It was only in the later days of his life that we realized that my dad was dyslexic, it explained a lot. Now we realize that he probably had Aspergers as well.

[mac4]

Thankyou!!

 

It's reassuring to know that there are others who have similar problems. I should find out the result of the dyslexia test on Wednesday and will let you all know how we got on. Thanks again for the replies.

 

 

[smiley1590]

i have sensory processing difficultiesand AS aswell dyspraxia your son ever been tested for dyspraxia? i high with spelling words normally just struggle with the meaning and uynderstanding so could be his AS means he has SID (Sensory Intergration Dysfunction) it can go along side AS quite close but then so can dyslexia so get both checked throughly though ok!

 

good luck in whatever u decide to do for the best it be right for your son!

take care

KLX

[hedders]

MY DD IS UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR AS/DYSLEXIA/SID SHE IS 8 BUT I THINK IT WILL TAKE MANY MORE YRS YET TO BE DIAGNOSED.

[mac4]

 

hello again

 

On thursday we got the results of the screening test. B received a quotient at risk score of 2:1 which states she is strongly at risk. B is 9yrs and 10 mths she has the reading skill of someone younger than 6.5!!! The main problem for us is the school are now saying that because she has been educated in the language of Gaelic this has a bearing on the results but she has been doing English for a year and a half now and she has or should have learn't the concept of reading that it is a group of phonetic sounds which when put together make a word. HAlf of the test isn't about literacy any way, they test balance, backwards digit reciting, bead threading and semantic and vocabulary fluency. Now we await the next meeting.

[julieann]

hello again

 

On thursday we got the results of the screening test. B received a quotient at risk score of 2:1 which states she is strongly at risk. B is 9yrs and 10 mths she has the reading skill of someone younger than 6.5!!! The main problem for us is the school are now saying that because she has been educated in the language of Gaelic this has a bearing on the results but she has been doing English for a year and a half now and she has or should have learn't the concept of reading that it is a group of phonetic sounds which when put together make a word. HAlf of the test isn't about literacy any way, they test balance, backwards digit reciting, bead threading and semantic and vocabulary fluency. Now we await the next meeting.

Hi mac4,

They seem to want to use any excuse to take the responsibility for the childs difficulties with learning away from them.

They tried to blame my son's difficulties on him being home educated. It even appeared on his final diagnosis report of A/S. We put in a complaint and had the report re-written and received an apology.

My son had been out of school for 2 weeks because he had broken both his wrists.

 

 

Julieann

 

 

[JsMum]

hello again

 

On thursday we got the results of the screening test. B received a quotient at risk score of 2:1 which states she is strongly at risk. B is 9yrs and 10 mths she has the reading skill of someone younger than 6.5!!! The main problem for us is the school are now saying that because she has been educated in the language of Gaelic this has a bearing on the results but she has been doing English for a year and a half now and she has or should have learn't the concept of reading that it is a group of phonetic sounds which when put together make a word. HAlf of the test isn't about literacy any way, they test balance, backwards digit reciting, bead threading and semantic and vocabulary fluency. Now we await the next meeting.

 

 

My son was first given the highest risk of Dyslexia at the age of six, he struggled so much throw his primary that he developed a phobia of any litracey based learning, he went for a private assessment in the end and recieved a couple of years 1-1 specialist support from an independant centre, and I got burseries to help pay the costs, then eventually even the centre couldnt give him the support anymore as he became totoally disengaged in learning.

 

Jays self esteem was rock bottom, his confidence in any Writing form totally brought the worse behaviours in him, his Anxiety rocketed and he just began to slip further and further down the table. litrately, under it, in aviodance to do any learning if it was reading, writitng, spelling.

 

From been in Year 1 he never recieved any additional support for his Dyslexia and when he had to have assessments done again he was given an age of 5.5yrs at 10 yrs old he was then finally given a DX Severe Dyslexia from the LEA so thats is 6yrs later and when we appealed for a specialist school it was added to his statement and he now has a substantial amount of additional support just for his Dyslexia and it has to be delivered and prepared from a specialist who specialises in Dyslexia.

 

Dyslexia if untreated and undiagnosed can causes additional disorders and cause considerable amount of misery for both the child and the Family.

 

My son read his First book to me at home with enthusiasm, this was just after Five weeks in his special school.

 

JsMum

xxxxx

 

Edited March 14, 2009 by JsMum

[smiley1590]

ive been told my reading level is above average but with me its the understanding behind words language and communication with is totally autistic signs and traits but because i have dyspraxia it complicates issues further with proving like i do need a reader for exams asd examing board can't understand why i would need one in first place! but my A.S. lady i see at local hosp unit said if need be she'll write a letter to them explaining the complex difficulties i have and the needs behind them! my form teacher and 1:1 maths support tutor (has a children with SEN's -esp dyspraxia and sensory diff probs) so gets why it so important to get this right every ones on my side and fighting my arguement but they won't accept anything! so poor i think the excuses they gave they don 't know what daily life can be so stressful and anx for someone like myself in mainstream higher education! they make it so annoying and frustrating! -where's the inclusion rights of students with additional needs in this situation! makes me angry and mad like so many other things in this world with systems turning round and saying NO and trying to cut us off pretend me DON'T exist when we do so face up to it! i won't give up!just because of this pathetic! it autistic not plain stupid and thick like i think they see you as! they won't trick me into anything!

[chris54]

Dyslexia does not necessarily mean that your child will have a significantly lower reading age.

 

My self I find that it takes all my concentration to decipher what the word say and that I have no understanding of what is meant. I have to focus on one word at a time. I have to read something 2 or 3 times to get the meaning of it, by this time every one else has moved on and left me behind. If I am in a meeting or something like that I cannot take notes as I have to concentrate so much on what I'm writing that I cannot take in any other information.(My ears switch off).

 

When I have been on courses every one else is frantically tacking notes I sit there with pen in hand but will seldom write anything down.

 

I also have a poor memory (For written words) so find that I will have forgotten what was at the start of something by the time I get to the end so have to constantly refresh my memory.

I don't read long books for this reason.(For my 20 pages is long).

 

I thought I would try and give you some idea of some of what it is like for me as a dyslexic. Its not that I don't know how to read.

Edited March 14, 2009 by chris54

[JsMum]

 

 

Many people with Dyslexia can read, thats why so many adults go undiagnosed because they dont think they have Dyslexia, Dyslexia is more a processing disorder, it doesnt process effectively and like others have noted it is more to do with memory too, many people who have Dyslexia along with Central Auditory Processing Disorder.

 

I often could read the beginning and end of a word but left out the middle, often people with Dyslexia have great difficulty processing the information, then more difficulties with the OUTPUT, so having difficulties putting thoughts to paper, or making sence of what you know is in your head to putting that into text.

 

Dyslexia is often interwoven in a co morbid and can be masked if other symptoms are more obvous such as ADHD or Dyspraxia something that is physical, like clumsiness, distracted, inattention, lack of focus, these are sometimes masking other problems such as an underlying difficulty such as a learning difficulty.

 

JsMumxx

 

 

[zakk]

I'm fairly new to this site, but have been on the Dyslexia equivalent site for some time http://www.beingdyslexic.co.uk/forums

Often the diagnosis is just a matter of which expert you see first! My daughter is 9 & was formally diagnosed as dyslexic 6 months ago, though I've known she was since aged 6! She had grommits fitted at age 6 (coincidentally, glue ear is more prevalent in dyslexic children), then took off verbally. We paid for her to go to a tutor for an hour a week to help her catch up after she had the grommmits fitted (before we recognised the dyslexia) - she has only just stopped going, and we fully expect that she will go back on and off over time as needed! The tutor did loads of phonics intially, then lots of mind mapping techniques and other methods of idea generation / organisation and loads of writing. This means that she is now an avid reader, with a reading age well ahead of her chronogical age and is on track to be at least average in everything by the end of this year (cf being 2 yrs behind her reading age for her writing at the end of last year!). The school have accepted the dyslexia after we had her privately tested (previously they'd said her reading was too good for her to be dyslexic!).

 

We had suspected dyspraxia, and this time were referred through our gp. However, it turns out she has loose ligaments and Asperger's tendancies (this happened 3 months ago), also possible Marfan's Syndrome (but I don't think that's connected - unless anyone knows differently?). I was also told at the same consultation that I probably have Asperger's too! We were told she's probably fairly mildly affected & given the option of being discharged or having a 6 month reivew. I chose the latter. I've been talking to the school since she joined in yr 3 about lack of firends and hating playtimes etc to no avail, but they are now taking a bit more notice in view of Asperger's being raised. I've now got to make a decision as to whether to go for a full diagnosis or not. I am a bit wary of ending up with a list of syndromes for a daughter and whether this will ultimately do her any favours! Also, my husband already thinks I make too much of all this! He finally accepts the dyslexia, but AS is all a bit too much...and as for his mother - well I haven't even gone there!!!!

 

She is affected by the social side, doesn't understand tone of voice, can make inappropriate comments, has poor concentration (could be the dyslexia too), does like routines, is 'highly strung!', likes to be in charge, doesn't play like most children, can't understand teasing etc. The school have recorded possible AS as well as the dyslexia as SpLD for her. So should I go for a diagnosis? Would I gain anything by it?

 

I'd be keen to hear people's views / experiences etc!

Thanks!

[Karen A]

I'm fairly new to this site, but have been on the Dyslexia equivalent site for some time http://www.beingdyslexic.co.uk/forums

Often the diagnosis is just a matter of which expert you see first! My daughter is 9 & was formally diagnosed as dyslexic 6 months ago, though I've known she was since aged 6! She had grommits fitted at age 6 (coincidentally, glue ear is more prevalent in dyslexic children), then took off verbally. We paid for her to go to a tutor for an hour a week to help her catch up after she had the grommmits fitted (before we recognised the dyslexia) - she has only just stopped going, and we fully expect that she will go back on and off over time as needed! The tutor did loads of phonics intially, then lots of mind mapping techniques and other methods of idea generation / organisation and loads of writing. This means that she is now an avid reader, with a reading age well ahead of her chronogical age and is on track to be at least average in everything by the end of this year (cf being 2 yrs behind her reading age for her writing at the end of last year!). The school have accepted the dyslexia after we had her privately tested (previously they'd said her reading was too good for her to be dyslexic!).

 

We had suspected dyspraxia, and this time were referred through our gp. However, it turns out she has loose ligaments and Asperger's tendancies (this happened 3 months ago), also possible Marfan's Syndrome (but I don't think that's connected - unless anyone knows differently?). I was also told at the same consultation that I probably have Asperger's too! We were told she's probably fairly mildly affected & given the option of being discharged or having a 6 month reivew. I chose the latter. I've been talking to the school since she joined in yr 3 about lack of firends and hating playtimes etc to no avail, but they are now taking a bit more notice in view of Asperger's being raised. I've now got to make a decision as to whether to go for a full diagnosis or not. I am a bit wary of ending up with a list of syndromes for a daughter and whether this will ultimately do her any favours! Also, my husband already thinks I make too much of all this! He finally accepts the dyslexia, but AS is all a bit too much...and as for his mother - well I haven't even gone there!!!!

 

She is affected by the social side, doesn't understand tone of voice, can make inappropriate comments, has poor concentration (could be the dyslexia too), does like routines, is 'highly strung!', likes to be in charge, doesn't play like most children, can't understand teasing etc. The school have recorded possible AS as well as the dyslexia as SpLD for her. So should I go for a diagnosis? Would I gain anything by it?

 

I'd be keen to hear people's views / experiences etc!

Thanks!

 

Hi zakk.Ben obtained a diagnosis of AS a few months ago.I had been around on the Forum for a couple of years however Ben had a diagnosis of dyspraxia with Social Communication difficulties for some time.CAMHS decided to do a 3di assessment because Ben wanted to know whether he has AS.

I think that there are a few reasons why it it helps to have a clear diagnosis.In many parts of the country it is difficult to obtain specialist support such as ASD outreach without a clear dx.Although things may be ok at school currently it is difficult to predict whether support may be needed in the futurs.

Also as children get older and the social demands of school become more comlplex the difference between children with AS and their peers can become more obvious it is difficult for them to keep up with increased demands for more compex social skills.So it may be that your daughter may benefit from support in the future.Again it helps to have an ASdx for this.Karen.

 

[Sally44]

I suspected my son had dyslexia for years. We took him to Dyslexia Action when he was nearly 7 (as 7 appears to be an age by which time certain developmental skills should be in place). Anyway they couldn't test him because, although he is HFA, he has severe difficulties with receptive speech as well as central auditory processing disorder. For example the first question she asked him was to listen to a word cut into three sylabels, and to build it back up eg. Pho-to-graph. My son said the word was 'grass'. She tried a couple more things then gave up! But that was still evidence in itself of his difficulties.

I had difficulties with anyone in school or outside agencies recognising his dyslexia and kept being told that 'children with autism usually have these types of difficulties', well maybe that is because those children also have dyslexia!?! But there are other children with an ASD diagnosis that don't have these learning difficulties, therefore there must be something 'extra' going on.

My son recently had his Statement finalised, and it says there that he is suspected of having dyslexia and that if he doesn't make reasonable progress within 6 months that the school will have to employ a specialist teacher for him. I'm sure they will have produced some evidence by then that he has made some progress.

But he has a brilliant memory. He can read a book once and remember all the words. But he cannot blend letters, or read known words in another context, he cannot spell, he cannot sound out a word a guess what it is. It is very frustrating because he is a bright lad. He is now 8 and is still on P levels ie. not on the national curriculum yet. However he can talk to you about gravity or how birds can fly etc.

I don't know if all LEAs have an advisory teacher for Dyslexia. Ours has just been removed and put in another job!! But they should be able to give advice to school about how to present work.

They do use precision teaching (which is really an on-going assessment process) with my son which is supposed to help children with dyslexia learn and retain information. But I need to speak with the PP again to find out 'who' can give more advice to school if needed.

[zakk]

Hi zakk.Ben obtained a diagnosis of AS a few months ago.I had been around on the Forum for a couple of years however Ben had a diagnosis of dyspraxia with Social Communication difficulties for some time.CAMHS decided to do a 3di assessment because Ben wanted to know whether he has AS.

I think that there are a few reasons why it it helps to have a clear diagnosis.In many parts of the country it is difficult to obtain specialist support such as ASD outreach without a clear dx.Although things may be ok at school currently it is difficult to predict whether support may be needed in the futurs.

Also as children get older and the social demands of school become more comlplex the difference between children with AS and their peers can become more obvious it is difficult for them to keep up with increased demands for more compex social skills.So it may be that your daughter may benefit from support in the future.Again it helps to have an ASdx for this.Karen.

 

Karen, Thanks for your post. I think I agree with you, but one of my biggest problems is resistance from my husband & how to sell to him getting yet another diagnosis! He thinks I'm making excuses for our daughter and singling her out too much. He's not very happy that we got the diagnosis of dyslexia, but can just about accept it, AS is another story altogether! He does accept she's a bit different (just about!), but thinks we should just accept that, & constantly complains that she's rude (although when pressed, will accept that she doesn't realise she's saying inappropriate things or using the wrong tone of voice!).....not really sure how to move things forward - he can be very stubborn! He won't be coming to the review appointment, so if absolutely necessary, I can say the Dr recommended we get an assessment, but I'd rather not have to do this!